Cigarette dispenser and lighter



May 16, 1967 R. A. w. NAUJOKS ET 3,319,319

CIGARETTE DISPENSER AND LIGHTER Filed Dec. 17, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 RUUOLF A.W. NAUJOKS; JOSEF HELD; FRANZ JOSEF PRINZ-BACH and ERICH RUDOLF GANTNER M214 78/ ATTOR Y.

May 16, 1967 R w, NAUJQKS ET AL 3,319,819

CIGARETTE DISPENSER AND LIGHTER Filed Dec. 17, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 lm emars RUDOLF A.W. NAUJOKS;JOSEF HELD; FRANZ JOSEF PRINZBACH and ERICH RUDOLF GANTNER y 7 R. A. w. NAUJOKS ET AL 3,319,819

CIGARETTE P Inventor's LD; FRANZ JOSEF PRINZBACH an ERICH RUDOLF GANTNER AT ORNEY.

May 16, 1967 R. A.W. NAUJOKS ET A 3 1 CIGARETTE DISPENSER AND LIGHTER Filed Dec. 17, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Fig.6

Inventors RUDOLF A. W.NAUJOKS; JOSEF HELD; FRANZ JOSEF PRIN'LBACH and ERICH RUDOLF GANTNER "3/, ArTTaNi Y.

United States Patent Office Patented May 16, 1867 3,319,819 CIGARETTE DTSPENSER AND LIGHTER Rudolf A. W. Nauiolrs, Irn Mctzcnacher, Baden-Baden, Josef Held, Ehers'teinhurg, near Baden-Baden, Franz Josef Prinzhach, Haslach, Kinzigtal, and Erich Rudolf Gantner, Baden-Baden, Germany; said Held, Prinzhach, and Gantner assignors to said Nauiolrs Filed Dec. 17, 1%4, tier. No. 418,954 Claims priority, application Germany, Dec. 20, 1963,

24,187 12 Claims. (Cl. 22i.-l.5)

The invention pertains to a cigarette dispenser for the individual dispensing of cigarettes that have been lit by means of an automatic lighting device.

Devices of this kind are already known. In such devices a roller, forming the bottom of the storage container and having a reception space for a cigarette, is arranged to revolve between an electric li hting device and a suction line which is movable toward it, and from which, after lighting, the cigarette can be extracted.

Other mechanisms rather complex in construction and in operation have been suggested in the prior art.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a cigarette dispenser for the individual dispensing of cigarettes lit by means of an automatic lighting device, which is simple in construction and openation.

Another object of the invention is to provide the cigarette dispenser of the type described having a storage chamber for storing a plurality of cigarettes, a dispensing tray for receiving unlighted cigarettes, means for transferring a single cigarette at a time to the tray, lighter means for lighting a cigarette and means to allow removal of a lighted cigarette.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide the dispenser described having a pusher which controls all its functions.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art after a study of the following detailed description in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cigarette dispenser according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is another perspective view of a cigarette dispenser according to the invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the operating mechanism;

FIG. 4 shows a modified mounting for the housing;

FIG. 5 is a rear view of the modified mounting;

FIG. 6 is a section along the line Y-Y of FIG. 7;

FIG. 7 is a section along the line X-X of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 6 showing the drawer in open position.

In the cigarette dispenser, the front panel of the housing enclosing the above mentioned individual parts is provided with a pusher which is retained in its initial position by means of a spring and is connected by means of another spring with a carrier extending into the dispensing chamber for the purpose of conducting a cigarette therefrom to the lighting device; here, the above mentioned pusher co-acts with an electric contact for switching on and off the heating current of the stationary lighting device, with a time-lag release device and with a dispensing device triggered by the release device by means of the pusher.

For the time-lag release an arresting mechanism may be employed which may be wound by means of the pusher. The carrier which conveys the cigarette from the dispensing chamber is so constructed as to permit lighting and dispensing of cigarettes of different lengths by means of a length adapter.

For a release mechanism an adjustable electric bimetallic or heating wire device may be used.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, a box-shaped housing 1 is shown which can be opened and shut by means of a lid 2. A cigarette supply is stored in a container 3 suitably adapted for this purpose as shown. The cigarettes rest on an inclined plane formed by segments 4 or by a continuous surface. The housing 1 has at the lower part a rectangular opening 5 in which a drawer 6 can be inserted. This drawer 6 serves as a dispensing device and is springloaded. The drawer has a trough-shaped depression 7 which serves as the dispensing chamber for the cigarette 8 resting in it. When the pusher is retracted, the drawer is released into the initial position by means of a lever and is thus pressed forward as a result of spring tension. in the closed position the trough 7 is under the container 3 for the cigarette supply so that only one cigarette at a time can drop into the trough. To facilitate removal the drawer 6 has a recess 9 at the front panel. The drawer can also hear a transparent shield which extends to the lighting chamber 10, thus making visible the functioning of the devices and, in the dark, also the position of the cigarette.

In the lighting chamber 10 a heating coil 11 is installed. The lighting chamber extends upward into a due 12. This time may be removably mounted and the heating coil may be fastened exchangeably to it. The flue effect causes removal of the smoke originating during the lighting of the cigarette by pressure of fresh air. Thus, the smoke does not enter the other chambers of housing l. The flue effect also insures that the lighting process is performed in a perfect manner. To prevent the cigarette during the lighting process from contacting the firing coil, a buffer 13 is fastened to the drawer. This buffer is so arranged that the cigarette may come very close to the ignition spiral but will not touch it. The inlet from container 3 into trough '7 is of such a shape that only one cigarette at a time enters the trough.

In order to ensure smooth conveyance into trough 7 also of cigarettes of different shapes, is. one at a time, two spring-loaded levers 6a may be incorporated into drawer 6. The levers are arranged in such a way that their front ends are moved back and forth when the drawer is being shut. Jamming of the cigarettes against each other is thereby avoided, and thus, through a combined effect with the shape of trough 7 only one cigarette at a time drops into the trough. Thereby smooth conveyance of round as well as of oval-shaped cigarettes is provided for in an efficient manner.

Optionally, an illuminating device can be incorporated into housing 1 to illuminate the removal opening. The bottom of the housing may have perforations through which tobacco remnants or crumbs can fall out. For the purpose of attaching the cigarette dispenser for instance in motor vehicles, a fastening device permitting full positioning control thereof, may be employed.

The manner in which the individual parts of the entire device interact is shown in greater detail in FIGURE 3. A cigarette 8 is in the trough 7 of drawer 6 at which moment the drawer 6 is in closed position. In order to cause dispensing of a lit cigarette, lever 14 is pushed to the right all the way to the end of slot 14' which acts as a stop. lever 14 is connected with operating pusher 15. The operating pusher 15 has a lug 16, which interlocks with a groove of a lifting segment 17 for the timing mechanism 18. Through the motion to the right the timing mechanism is wound. At the same time the electric contact 19 which switches on the current for the ignition spiral is actuated by means of pusher 15.

The operating pusher 15 is connected with another pusher 21 by means of a spiral spring 20. This pusher has at its lower end a tongue 22, extending into trough 7,

3 Which serves as a carrier for conveying the cigarette 8 to the ignition spiral 11. By this arrangement it is also possible to convey cigarettes of different lengths to the ignition spiral 11 for lighting.

After expiration of the preadjusted time interval of the timing mechanism 18, which is so adjusted that the cigarette 8 just becomes lit, the pusher 15 is suddenly released by rotation of segment 17 to move notch 17' toward lug 16 and is pulled back by spring 23. Due to the return of pusher 15 the contact 19 is opened and thus ignition spiral 1 1 is switched off. If the pusher strikes out on the left side, the locking lever 24 is released by stop 25, which strikes against lug 26 of the locking lever, so that it comes out of the milled slot 27 at drawer 6. Thus, the spring-loaded drawer 6 moves forward so that the lit cigarette '8 may be removed. After the drawer is closed, another cigarette drops from the supply container into the trough 7, and when lever 14 is pushed to the right, the process may be repeated. Here, the stop has also the task of preventing the release of the arresting lever 24- while pusher 15 is moving to the right.

Also attached to the drawer is the stop 13 which causes cigarette 8 to be positioned adjacent the heating spiral 11, yet without touching it. It is also possible at the same time to use the retracting spring 23 attached to pusher 15 as the driving spring for the timing device.

Thus, the cigarette dispenser according to the invention distinguishes itself by extraordinary operating reliability, a simple manner of operation and simple construction.

The cigarette dispenser according to the invention is well suited for installation in motor vehicles, but not limited thereto.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show another embodiment of the cigarette dispenser according to the invention.

In FIG. 4 the housing 1 is supported in a U-shaped frame so that it may be swung out. This frame at the same time may serve as a closure of the supply container 3. The frame is kept in a retracted position by means of catch 29, the lug 30 of which is engaged in the drilled hole 31. The current supply proceeds to the cigarette dispenser according to the invention by means of spring or knife-blade contacts 32 which engage in a corresponding contact strip 33 at the back of frame 28. Thus, a stationary installation of the appliance is made possible.

For fastening the cigarette dispenser in an optional manner, a mounting plate 34 shown in FIG. 5, is attached to the outer side of frame 28. It has two slotted holes 35 and 36, through which screws extend for fastening it to a desired surface. The mounting plate may be adjusted at any angle to the housing. For this purpose a cylindrical shaft 37 is attached to the mounting plate 34. The mounting plate has also a recess 38 which allows to increase the possible angle of movements. By means of the clamping plate 39, which may be locked in position, the shaft 37 can be clamped in any desired angle. Thus, the device may be retained in a horizontal position on surfaces having any angle of inclination. To provide a better grip, the shaft 37 may have a knurled surface. For adjustment of the device only screws 40 and 41 (see FIG. 4) need be loosened from the front. After adjustment of the device into operating position, the two screws are again tightly secured. It is of course also possible to fasten the mounting plate 34 in reverse or below at 42, in order to create other mounting possibilities on arbitrarily inclined surfaces in a horizontal operating plane.

:In FIGS. 6 and 7 an improved guide of the drawer is depicted.

FIG. 8 shows a cross section of the cigarette dispenser according to FIG. 6 with the drawer open.

According to the invention, two spaced ball guideways 43 and 43a are incorporated in the guide for the drawer. Each of these has in the bottom of housing 1 two raceways 44 and 44a and at the lower side of drawer 6 two raceways 45 and 45a. Two ball bearings 45 and 46a are incorporated in each ball raceway. The raceways have such a length and position arrangement that the balls are always kept at a predetermined distance. In addition, two bent leaf springs 47 and 47a, bent into U-shapes, are mounted in the bottom of the housing. The balls 48 and 48!: roll off of the upper legs of these leaf springs. Otherwise they roll in the drawer 6 in slanted guideways 49 and 49a which are inclined at certain angles.

The incline of the slanted guideway is so calculated that it results in a certain ratio between the vertical guide pressure and a horizontal component which pushes the drawer up to a buffer. The upward pointing legs of the leaf springs 47 and .7a extend into container 3 whereby the front ends are bent. When the drawer is pushed in, as a result of the inclined guideways 49 and 49a, the front end of the U-shaped springs is raised. As a result thereof, the cigarettes in the magazine are moved and thus it is made certain that a cigarette at a time drops into trough 7.

In FIG. 8 the drawer 6 according to FIG. 6, after lighting of the cigarette, is pushed out at the front.

With these and further objects in view, as may become apparent from the within disclosure, the invention consists not only in the method, apparatus and structure herein pointed out, but includes further methods, apparatus and structures coming within the scope of what may be claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A cigarette dispenser comprising a housing, a storage chamber therein for storing a plurality of cigarettes, a dispensing tray slidably mounted beneath the chamber for receiving unlighted ciagrettes therefrom, releasable means engaging said tray for locking it beneath the chamber, lighter means at one end of the tray for lighting a cigarette, manually controlled means for engaging a cigarette on the tray for shifting the cigarette along the tray to a position adjacent the lighter means and for maintaining the cigarette adjacent the lighter means, timer means actuated by the manually controlled means for releasing said locking means at a predetermined time for movement of said tray from the position under the storage chamber to a position remote therefrom whereby to allow removal of a lighted cigarette, and means engaging said tray for so moving it. I

2. A device as in claim 1 provided with means for slidably mounting the tray, such means comprising a pair of spaced parallel grooves in the bottom of the tray, co operating spaced parallel grooves in the bottom of the housing each facing one of the grooves in the tray, and rollers mounted in said grooves.

3. A device as in claim 1 wherein the means for locking the tray beneath the chamber comprises a notch in the tray, a lever pivotally mounted in the housing, and a detent on the lever fitting in the notch.

4. A device as in claim 3 wherein the means for releasing said locking means comprises a shoulder on said shifting means, a shoulder on said lever, and spring means for moving said shifting means to engage said shoulders whereby to pivot said lever and move the detent out of the notch.

5. A device as in claim 1 wherein the lighter means comprises a resistance element, said housing having a flue above said element extending through the housing.

6. A device as in claim 1 wherein the means for shifting the cigarette comprises a first pusher member slidably mounted in the housing, a tongue extending from said member into the tray in position to engage and push one end of the cigarette, a second pusher member slidably mounted in said housing for movement parallel to the movement of the first pusher member, spring means connecting said pusher members, and a manual lever secured to said second pusher member to slide such member and thereby pull the first pusher member through the spring,

and a stop adjacent the lighter means for engaging the other end of the cigarette whereby to stop the cigarette in position to be lit.

7. A device as in claim 1 provided with a device on said timer means for latching said shifting means in position to hold a cigarette adjacent the lighter.

8. A device as in claim 1 wherein said means for so moving the tray comprises a U-shaped spring, means securing one leg of said U-shaped spring to the housing, an inclined groove in the tray, a roller mounted in the groove and engaging the other leg of said U-shaped spring, said U-shaped spring being under stress whereby the legs of said U-shaped spring tend to approach each other.

9. A device as in claim 1 further including a support, means for mounting the support on a selected surface, means pivotally mounting the housing in the support, an electrical socket mounted on the support, and an electrical plug mounted on the housing whereby pivotal movement of the housing will connect and disconnect the plug and socket.

10. A device as in claim 9 further including means for locking the housing in the support to prevent pivotal movement.

11. A device as in claim 10 wherein the locking means comprises a detent mounted on the housing, said support having an opening receiving said detent.

12. A device as in claim 9 wherein the means for mounting the support on a selected surface comprises a bracket having elongated slots, and means for angularly securing the bracket on the support.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,182,955 12/1939 Allen 221- 2,216,675 10/1940 Presscott et al 221l5 2,545,936 3/1951 Zanardo 221-147 2,936,930 5/1960 Rott et al. 22115 3,211,327 10/1965 Beha et a1. 221-15 ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner.

K. N. LEIMER, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A CIGARETTE DISPENSER COMPRISING A HOUSING, A STORAGE CHAMBER THEREIN FOR STORING A PLURALITY OF CIGARETTES, A DISPENSING TRAY SLIDABLY MOUNTED BENEATH THE CHAMBER FOR RECEIVING UNLIGHTED CIGARETTES THEREFROM, RELEASABLE MEANS ENGAGING SAID TRAY FOR LOCKING IT BENEATH THE CHAMBER, LIGHTER MEANS AT ONE END OF THE TRAY FOR LIGHTING A CIGARETTE, MANUALLY CONTROLLED MEANS FOR ENGAGING A CIGARETTE ON THE TRAY FOR SHIFTING THE CIGARETTE ALONG THE TRAY TO A POSITION ADJACENT THE LIGHTER MEANS AND FOR MAINTAIN- 